Posted on 02/21/2007 8:15:53 AM PST by Smogger
The fact that the political parties won't acknowledge this is one reason they are doing a disservice to the voting public.
...
Politicians talk this way because they generally talk about only one tax: the federal income tax, which offers graduated rates from 10% to 35%.
Politicians rarely talk about what real people experience: the true maze of taxes and government benefits. If someone put them all together, we could see what our actual tax burden was. We could see who pays at the highest or lowest rates. Discussions of tax policy wouldn't be a waste of time.
Well, two researchers did it.
In a study for the National Bureau of Economic Research, Boston University economists Laurence J. Kotlikoff and David Rapson have found that our all-in marginal tax rate is 40%, give or take a bit. Yes, you read that right: 40%.
Most workers will pay about that much on each dollar of income when all taxes -- federal and state income taxes, sales taxes, taxes for benefit programs, etc. -- are considered.
As a consequence, a 30-year-old couple earning only $20,000 a year has a marginal tax rate of 42.5%, while a 45-year-old couple earning $500,000 pays at 43.2%. There are some exceptions: A 30-year-old couple earning $50,000 a year, for instance, pays 24.4%, and a 60-year-old couple making $150,000 a year faces a tax rate of 47.7%.
The average marginal tax rate on incomes between $20,000 and $500,000 is 40.3%, the median tax rate is 41.8%, and the standard deviation of all of those rates is 5.3 percentage points. Basically, most of us pay about 40%, plus or minus 5.3 percentage points.
(Excerpt) Read more at articles.moneycentral.msn.com ...
I know this much - my paycheck is about 63% of what my actual gross income is.
I recall reading somewhere oh-so-long-ago that it's closer to 48% when you add in local taxes, state taxes, fees (required and otherwise), etc.
Ping for reference.
"Your real tax rate: 40%"
At the fed level then tack on state, sales, utility and you get past 40% very quickly.
We are the most taxed, less serviced generation in American history.
Add in all the money you pay in insurance premiums so lawyers can use their license to steal and it turns out you're paying a 10-15% lawyer tax on top.
Yep, and then add your sales taxes for the stuff you buy, any fees for gov't services (car tags, etc.), any property taxes, car taxes, licensing fees, gas tax, alcohol tax, cigarette tax...lions and tigers and bears, oh my....
Pushing 50% of what we make. How would the colonialists react to that?
Well, with NJ's highest property taxes in the country, Im guessing I can add 10% to that fifure.
Most workers will pay about that much on each dollar of income when all taxes -- federal and state income taxes, sales taxes, taxes for benefit programs, etc. -- are considered.
If I understand this right, 40% is not the marginal rate on the last dollar earned. It's the actual percentage of income taken, which makes it even worse.
I've told you folks that the graduated tax is meant to keep you broke so you can't fight the government. Now figure out why they need all this tax money and you won't find an answer. Except that they just want it.
Makes me feel a bit better about what I pay here in Germany.
By the way: thanks for your help with the defense thing.
Well, if the tax code is offering me 10%, I'll take some of that!
You really want to RUIN YOUR DAY??
Sit down and add up EVERY tax you pay and on what. You will be shocked. I did it. In my last exercise I computed that 63% of my gross income went to taxation of all forms.
TAX, TAX, TAX. And the socialists want more.
And don't forget that the price of everything you buy from Advil to Zinc is about 50% taxes, except for cigarettes which are about 85% taxes.
We should be thankful [sarcasm]. I did a study on Finland last year, and they pay about 60% of their income in taxes. I'm guessing most Euro countries pay about the same rate. The same will happen to us if we go to socialized medicine.
But don't worry! Governor Corzine is going to take some of your money out of one pocket to put it in another, while retaining only the teeensy-weeeensiest portion to cover expenses...
Taxes on Phone and Internet Service are some of the most ridiculous. Everybody and his brother gets their chunk!
50% money
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